I have a MySQL database where I store dates in the standard YYYY-MM-DD format (like 2014-09-08). When I fetch these dates in my PHP application, I need them displayed in DD-MM-YYYY format instead (like 08-09-2014).
The database column type is DATE. I’m wondering if there’s a way to format the date directly in my SQL query, or if I should handle the formatting on the PHP side after retrieving the data.
What would be the most efficient approach to achieve this date format conversion?
Hit this same issue building a reporting dashboard last month with thousands of date records.
DATE_FORMAT works for small datasets, but performance tanked when data volume grew. Plus I needed consistent formatting across multiple apps.
Solved it with a workflow that pulls from MySQL, formats dates exactly how I want, and pushes clean data wherever needed. No more rewriting the same DATE_FORMAT queries.
The workflow handles date transformations automatically and I can tweak format rules without touching code. Takes 5 minutes to set up, then it just runs.
You can build something similar at https://latenode.com
i totally agree! using PHP’s date() can be super handy for quick fixes. but if you’re handling lots of data, go with the MySQL approach to keep things efficient. just apply either way that fits your case better! both have their pros!
Both work, but cache your formatted dates if you’re showing the same ones repeatedly. I hit performance problems using DATE_FORMAT on a reports page that refreshed every few seconds with identical data. Fixed it by formatting once in PHP and storing the result in a session variable or temp cache. Cut way down on database calls. Plus, if you need different date formats for user preferences or internationalization, PHP’s much cleaner. You can centralize everything in a helper function instead of hunting down SQL queries all over your app to update them.
I handle this straight in MySQL with DATE_FORMAT - saves processing time vs doing it in PHP. Use SELECT DATE_FORMAT(your_date_column, '%d-%m-%Y') AS formatted_date FROM your_table. Works great with large datasets since the formatting happens before data hits PHP. I’ve used this method for years and it’s always faster than fetching raw dates then reformatting with PHP functions.
Depends on your setup. I’ve worked with this stuff for years - MySQL’s DATE_FORMAT works great when you just need to display dates. But if you need the raw date for calculations AND a formatted version for display, grab the raw date and format it in PHP instead. You’ll have way more flexibility that way. Just make sure you’re using prepared statements with DATE_FORMAT if users can input data - keeps you safe from SQL injection. And if your app needs different date formats for different users or locales, definitely go with PHP formatting. You can change formats on the fly without touching your queries.